THE MARCHES SCHOOL NEWS Spring 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Girls turn their hand to cricket Students become radio presenters for the day D of E students tackle Snowdonia Plus much more… and International Coordinator) and Mrs Windows (SENCO). Mrs Parry had WELCOME worked at The Marches for 21 years SPOTLIGHT ON and Mrs Windows for 13. They are both missed, very much, by staff and This term has ATTENDANCE students but we wish them all the best been an in their retirement. extremely busy MEET OZ… one and I am sure you will Oz has 90% attendance agree this and he thinks it is fine, as edition of the does his Mum and Dad. newsletter is bursting from Mrs Parry Mrs Windows Miss Arthan cover to cover BUT WAIT…. Mrs Parry has, however, been in touch with exciting That’s half a day off school to share with us some very exciting and interesting stories and updates. each week! news. Mrs Parry, along with fellow ex-colleague Miss Arthan and ex- A range of activities have taken place LOOKING A BIT student Bryony Johnson have been this term and we have tried to capture nominated as Torch Bearers to carry CLOSER… the breadth and depth of these within the Olympic Flame. This is a once in a Over the school year, 90% the newsletter. Here at The Marches lifetime opportunity and a true honour. attendance equates to four whole we aim to ensure that our students are The staff and students at The Marches weeks off school. equipped with the skills required to are delighted for them. prosper in the 21st Century. Last Oz’s Dad thinks he would lose summer saw students achieving the I would like to take this opportunity to his job if he had that much time off work... school’s best ever GCSE results and say how very proud I am of the we are proud that, along with these students and staff at The Marches and AND A BIT CLOSER AGAIN… fantastic results, students have been also to thank you, as parents, for your given the opportunity to flourish and That’s half a school year absent over the continued support and significant course of 5 years! learn valuable life skills that will assist contributions. them throughout their lives. 93% attendance (or better) gives you a Mrs S Longville, This term saw the school’s production 73% chance of achieving 5 GCSEs, Headteacher ‘Godspell’ hit the school stage. The Grades A-C, whatever your ability. production was a huge success and an accolade to the hard work and effort CYCLING SAFETY Below 90% Attendance will give you a put in by all the staff and students We wish to encourage students to cycle to 27% chance of achieving 5 GCSEs, involved. As you will read, students school for the health and environmental Grades A-C, whatever your ability. have also been busy preparing for the benefits this brings. To support this, we Olympics, becoming radio presenters, have a bike store where bikes can be locked What can I do to help away during the school day. Cycle helmets travelling to Germany, studying the can be securely stored in the main admin improve my child’s Holocaust, developing new school office in school, which is located close to toilets and even spending a night in the bike store and is staffed before and after attendance? London’s Natural History Museum! school. They tell me it was just like the movie Call the absence Line DAILY for every day ‘A Night at The Museum’, so I’m sure We are currently looking at additional ways that your child is absent from School - this was an experience they will not to ensure we promote cycling, whilst also 01691 664400 forget in a hurry! ensuring our students make the best choices for their safety. Later in the year we If your child is ill for more than a week, ask will be offering Level 3, your Doctor for a note confirming that your For 29 students, the Easter break will Advanced Bikeability Training, at a low cost, partly be spent ‘Stateside’, as students to our cycling students. To further support child is unfit for school. If this is not possible, jet off to Florida for the annual Football our students, we have also joined forces a photocopy of a prescription or medicine Tour. This year is the first time the P.E. with Stuart Barkley Cycles and students will label helps the Attendance Officer confirm Department have taken the tour across receive 10% off a new helmet when this that illness is genuine. the Atlantic and we wish them a safe article is presented upon purchase. Just journey and a fantastic trip. visit Stuart Barkley Cycles (at the entrance Only grant days at home for genuine illness to the main car park in Oswestry) to (you will know!!) purchase a new helmet at a discounted rate. I would also like to say thank you to To find out more ways to help improve parents and carers who took the time The Highway Code states that cyclists your child’s attendance, please scan this to provide us with feedback on our “should” wear helmets. Cycle helmets are proposal to change the way the way also recommended by the Department for QR code with your smart phone using a we present ourselves. We are now in Transport, The British Medical Association, QR code reader… the process of analysing all of the ROSPA, Royal College of Paediatrics and feedback received and will be able to Child Health and the Department for update you shortly with details on how Transport. At The Marches School, we support this view. After the Easter break any the project is progressing. student wishing to cycle to school and use the school cycling facilities must wear a Finally, at Christmas, we said our sad cycle helmet both to and from the school. goodbyes to two long serving members of staff – Mrs Parry (Science Teacher Mrs Pearson, Deputy Headteacher Percentage Attendance by Year 11 GODSPELL 90% = 20 Weeks = 1 ½ Terms 01 80% = 40 Weeks = 1 Year 70% = 60 Weeks = 1 ½ Years INTRODUCING THE NEW ATTENDANCE LOGO… The Marches School performed the world renowned musical ‘Godspell’ from Monday 19th - Friday 23rd March. Performing to family, friends, members of the local Congratulations to the community and over 500 primary school students, this winners of the remarkable performance entertained and moved Attendance Logo people in equal measure. The story focuses on the life competition. They and teachings of Jesus but has a message that were: reaches far beyond the stories in the Bible. Godspell is about faith and love and the power of community. It Lisa Van Vuuren - allows us as an audience to see individuals coming together Year 9 in a common purpose before the community is tested to Emily Jiggens - breaking point. Year 7 Godspell is a sophisticated piece of theatre that is, at first, Both designs were judged equally as good difficult to penetrate. It is to the enormous credit of the by Mrs Longville and, as a result, the two talented students in the cast, chorus, band and crew that designs were cleverly combined by Mrs they were able to create such a clear story. With an abundance of comedy, tragedy and a versatile cast Trickett. playing many different characters, our students were Mr Lowe, Attendance Officer able to produce something truly special. Everyone involved worked superbly as a team, thinking supporting and creating the work together. I believe that the success stemmed from the sense of togetherness that pervades the story, entering the PARENT hearts and minds of all those involved in Godspell. The Parent Portal enablesPORTAL you to view information about your child including Mr Coupe reports, classroom resources and attendance/behaviour. To collect your login details, please call reception on 01691 664400. Mr O’Toole, Deputy Headteacher LOOKING TO THE FUTURE… The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is progressive, so for Year 10 Bronze participants it’s important to think ahead MARCHES COMENIUS – to the Silver Award of Year 11. STUDENTS VISIT GERMANY An experience of hilly terrain, which normally features in Silver expeditions, On Tuesday 7th February students from The Marches came when Year 10 students recently School departed from Oswestry and headed to Guenzburg completed a day walk in Snowdonia. In near Munich, Germany for a six day trip, as part of the fact, it was three walks in succession, all school’s latest Comenius Project. at low altitude but amid some of Wales’ finest scenery. The sombre, cliff-bound Comenius, a British Council initiative, aims to develop knowledge and understanding wilderness of Cwm Idwal was followed by amongst young people, highlighting the diversity of European cultures and languages. an easy tramp up a valley to the The project helps young people to acquire basic life skills and competences for their spectacular Aber Falls, and, lastly, a personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship. crossing of the Great Orme gave wide views of Anglesey and the Irish Sea. The group met students and teachers from Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy and Greece who have been working, in partnership with The Marches School, on a project based Dinner was served in Llandudno, in the around a European Identity. The trip was thoroughly enjoyed by all and was a great form of fish and chips. Soon, however, experience. Students took part in workshops and cultural events and really enjoyed Award participants will be cooking their making links with students from various schools across Europe.